“More like eleven months.”
Her eyes widened. “Months?You don’t mean days?”
I shook my head.
“But you’re…you. Why would you… I don’t get it.”
It was my turn to hunch my shoulders. “Shit, this is more truth telling than I was planning on doing today.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “You know how I’ve been sober for eight years? Some parts of my lifestyle are triggering, so I needed to make some sacrifices to maintain my sobriety. It kinda drove a wedge between me and most of the guys on this last tour. Our bassist, Beau, was off with his bride most of the time, so all thesingle guys would hang out together, but I didn’t—I couldn’t. By the end of the tour, Leif wasn’t talking to me, Gio was avoiding me likeIwas the problem, and Ryker wasn’t much better. Shit was awkward. Welcome to life as an addict.”
She nodded, but I could tell that she didn’t really understand it. That she couldn’t relate.
I sighed. Clearly all this truth telling was a mistake. “Come on. Let’s go return our gear.”
She stepped around me and moved to grab one of the struts on the kayak.
“Ah, they’ll grab the kayak. We’ve just got to return the oars and vests.”
She nodded again then turned and head for the main building, leaving me to follow and watch her swinging little ass in those tiny shorts.
Fuck.
Fuck!
It felt like I screwed everything up. She wasn’t ready to hear about my job. Or my insane life. And really wasn’t ready to face what life with an addict meant.
Not that we were planning a life together.
This was just some vacation fun. Although I did travel to Vegas a lot…
Jone was manning the desk now and took our vests and oars with little patter. He must’ve read our body language and knew not to bother us.
We walked side by side away from the equipment rental hut toward the general direction of our treehouses.
Finally, I cleared my throat roughly. “You got any plans for the day?”
She huffed. “I’m gonna put on a swimsuit, avoid my phone, and probably read by my private pool. Get some sun. Maybe take a nap.”
“Sounds like fun.” I waited a beat but no invite to join her came.
“Um, what are you gonna do today?”
That was only a polite social return. There had been zero interest in her tone.
I definitely screwed this up. “Probably the same minus the pool, since I don’t have one. Maybe I’ll check out my outdoor shower instead.”
Her breath hitched, and I watched her out of the corner of my eye as her cheeks flushed.
Maybe all wasn’t lost after all.
“Maybe I’ll break out my guitar and work on some songs and my fingering. Gotta keep the digits nimble.” I wiggled my fingers in front of me.
She made a whimpering sound that she tried to cover with a cough.
I grinned.
“Uh, yeah. That sounds like a fun day. This is me.” Thethank godwas clear in her tone, and then it was my turn to muffle my reaction as I literally wiped my smile off my face.
“We still on for dinner?”
